Southport girl with cerebral palsy to:- 'walk further than I've ever done' this Christmas to support Dandelion Days
Photo and report by Andrew Brown

A teenage Southport girl with cerebral palsy is taking on a fundraising challenge in the 12 days leading up to Christmas.  Ella Bowles will aim to complete a sponsored walk at Victoria Park in Southport, walking 3km each day, and 36km in total.  She plans to finish her fundraising journey on Christmas Eve.  She is unable to walk without either a wheelchair or a walker, and  Ella's this ambitious challenge:- "would be further than I have ever walked before, and a significant achievement for me.”

She is determined to raise as much money as she can for:- 'Dandelion Days,' a non for profit enterprise based in Scarisbrick, near Southport, whose horses help children and adults to cope with anxiety, depression, confidence issues and general mental health wellbeing with the help of their lovely horses through Equine Assisted Learning.

Ella said:- "I have moderate cerebral palsy, which affects my mobility in several ways, and as a result I am unable to walk unaided and rely on either a wheelchair or a walker. This December, I will be taking on a major personal challenge to test my endurance.  In the twelve days leading up to Christmas, from:- 13 December to 24 December 2025, I plan to complete a daily sponsored walk, aiming to walk 3km per day; 36km in total. If you see me there, please come and say hello!This would be further than I have ever walked before, and a significant achievement for me. I am completing this challenge to raise funds and awareness for:- Dandelion Days, a not for profit social enterprise based in Scarisbrick. Dandelion Days specialises in equine facilitated therapy and learning, helping children, young people and adults build confidence, self esteem and emotional wellbeing through meaningful experiences with horses and nature. Dandelion Days has had a life changing impact on me personally. I began as a service user at a time when I struggled with confidence and self belief. Over time, the support I received helped me build the strength to become a volunteer myself, and now I see every day the difference the organisation makes to so many vulnerable people. I am on a journey to raise £1,000 for a cause that is close to my heart. What is driving me? My passion has always been horses.  My love for horses began at the age of two when I 1st rode donkeys to help develop my core strength. Riding ponies followed, which helped stretch my tight legs and reduce pain especially after operations, but more important to me, it gave me a feeling of acceptance and relaxation. 2 years ago, I discovered the incredible Dandelion Days https://www.dandeliondays.co.uk/ dedicated to supporting individuals through their work with horses. After participating in one of their courses as a Christmas gift - yes they are very special needs friendly;  I was instantly hooked by their mission. They empower and support people, regardless of age or ability, through meaningful interactions with horses. Everyone at Dandelion Days has welcomed me and I am just 1 of the team. They help me do some things but I have found out I can lead a pony to a field in my walker by myself! Before joining Dandelion Days, I struggled with confidence and often felt uneasy being away from home. Today, I am proud to say that I am a Dandelion Days volunteer; truly my dream job! I'm currently studying animal management, and my hope is that in the future I will be able to help others in the same way that Dandelion Days has helped me. I'm sincerely grateful for any support you can provide. Every donation counts and makes a significant difference in our ability to continue this vital work.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity; it means the world to me.”

Ella, who lives in Southport, has set up a JustGiving page which people can support via:- JustGiving.Com.  For more details about Dandelion Days please visit:- DandelionDays.Co.UK.

Hugh Baird College announced as double finalist in prestigious AoC Beacon Awards 

HUGH Baird College is celebrating national recognition after being named a finalist in two Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Award categories: The RCU Award for Support for Students and The Edge Award for Excellence in Real World Learning. 

The AoC Beacon Awards are regarded as 1 of the highest accolades in further education, celebrating outstanding practice and innovation across the UK. Achieving finalist status in both categories highlights the College's continued commitment to excellence following its recent Ofsted Outstanding grading, one of only three further education colleges in the North West to hold the rating. 

Hugh Baird College has been shortlisted for The RCU Award for Support for Students in recognition of its 'Education for All' initiative, a wide-ranging suite of programmes developed to ensure young people across the Liverpool City Region can access high-quality, inclusive and personalised education. 

Since 2021, the College has expanded and redesigned its Foundation Learning provision to respond to local needs, creating innovative programmes that remove barriers to learning and support young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), have high needs, experience social, emotional, or mental health needs challenges or require a more specialist pathway. This includes highly impactful programmes such as:- Turn Around, Engage, Thornton College, Learning for Life, and the new Transitions Hub, all developed in partnership with local authorities, NHS services, Career Connect and specialist agencies. 

These programmes provide tailored intervention, strengthened transitions, personalised learning, and restorative approaches that help learners rebuild confidence, re-engage in education and progress to positive destinations. 

The College has also been named a finalist in The Edge Award for Excellence in Real World Learning for its pioneering:- 'WorkReady with eduScrum' programme. This agile, employer-led model brings real industry challenges into the classroom, with learners working in self managed teams to tackle live briefs co-designed with employers. The approach mirrors modern workplace practice and develops in-demand skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving and resilience.
The programme demonstrates strong employer collaboration, inclusive design and measurable impact, with many learners progressing into employment or further study following their project experience. 

Rachael Hennigan, Principal and Chief Executive at Hugh Baird College, said:- "Being named a double national finalist in the AoC Beacon Awards is a tremendous achievement and speaks volumes about the dedication, care and innovation shown by our staff every single day.   These nominations showcase the strength of our curriculum, our commitment to inclusion, and the powerful role employers play in shaping our students' futures. Our support teams work tirelessly to ensure every learner feels valued and able to succeed, and our employer-led approach provides students with real-world experiences and the confidence they need for their future careers. We are incredibly proud to see this work recognised on a national stage.” 

The winners of the 2025/26 AoC Beacon Awards will be announced early in 2026.

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